Fencing for New Builds on the Bellarine Peninsula | What You Need Before Handover

Building a new home on the Bellarine Peninsula comes with a set of fencing requirements that catch most first-time builders off guard. The Victorian Fences Act, council planning permit conditions, and the practical realities of getting a fence right before you move in all need attention before the first post goes in the ground.

The mistake most new build owners make is leaving fencing to the end of the build process and treating it as an afterthought. By that point, the neighbour’s already got their shade sail up, the soil’s been compacted by builders, and you’re trying to coordinate with tradies who are already onto the next job.

Fencing for a new build should be sorted before or during the early stages of construction — not after.

What the Fences Act Requires for New Build Boundary Fencing

The Fences Act 1984 (Vic) governs boundary fencing between neighbours, including on new build properties. If your property shares a boundary with an existing occupied property, your neighbour has a right to a adequate fence — and they can serve you with a fencing notice requiring you to contribute to half the cost of a “reasonable” fence.

For a new build on the Bellarine, a “reasonable” fence in most cases means a standard timber paling fence of adequate height for the area. If you want something more expensive — Colorbond, hardwood, or a taller fence for privacy — you can do it, but you can’t force your neighbour to contribute more than half the cost of a standard fence.

The key action: before you start building, identify all shared boundaries and serve appropriate fencing notices on any neighbours who have existing fences. This establishes your legal position and starts the formal process if there are any disputes.

Council Planning Permit Conditions and Fencing

Most Bellarine Peninsula councils — City of Greater Geelong for the Bellarine wards — have planning permit conditions that apply to fencing in new developments. These typically cover front fence height restrictions in estate areas, corner lot visibility requirements, and pool fencing obligations.

If your development is in a subdivision with Design and Development Overlay requirements, the fence height, materials, and sometimes colours may be specified in the permit. Check the planning permit for your lot before specifying anything.

Corner lot fencing requirements: properties on corners have different visibility requirements. Your planning permit will specify setback distances for sight lines at vehicle access points. A fence that looks great from inside your block may encroach on a sight line that council requires to be kept clear.

Pool fencing for new builds: if your new home includes or might include a pool or spa, the pool barrier must comply with AS 1926.1 at the time of construction. This isn’t something you can defer — it’s inspected at the building stage. If there’s any possibility of a pool in the future, do the barrier properly at construction stage. Retrofitting a compliant pool barrier to an established garden is expensive.

Coordinating with the Builder

The practical reality on most Bellarine new build sites: the builder is managing the construction, the concreters are in and out, and the site gets compacted by machinery during the build. By the time the house is complete and you’re thinking about fencing, the soil conditions on parts of the site are significantly worse than they were when the house was designed.

If the builder is including fencing in their scope — some project builders do — get the specification locked in writing before they price it. Standard builder-spec fencing is usually the cheapest acceptable option, not the right option for your site. Push for a proper specification that accounts for Bellarine coastal conditions if you’re on the peninsula.

If fencing is not in the builder’s scope, get quotes during the construction phase while you still have easy access to the site. Once the house is complete and you’re living there, every tradie who needs to come back creates complications for fence installation.

What to Specify for a Bellarine New Build Fence

For most Bellarine new builds, the practical recommendation is treated pine paling with H4 posts, properly fitted with no gaps at the base, on a standard concrete footing. It’s not glamorous but it’s what most neighbours accept, it complies with the Fences Act, and it handles Bellarine conditions when installed properly.

If you want Colorbond: specify the coastal-grade Colorbond with proper installation. It’s a better long-term choice for the peninsula and the cost premium over timber paling is justified over a 20-year horizon. Get your neighbour’s agreement in writing if they’re sharing the cost — they may push back on the premium.

Pool barriers on new builds: these need to be done as part of the building work, not by a fencing contractor afterward. Make sure your building surveyor knows about any pool or spa included in the design — this needs to be captured on the permit and inspected at the frame stage, not after the fence is up.